These being completed the procession came back with great pomp. The
priest, his wife, the hired Brahman, and some others, walked on garments
which had been spread in the way on purpose for them to walk on. As the
wife of the priest came along carrying a _Kalasha_, a particular kind of
water vessel, which for the time, with its contents, was held to be pure
and sacred, she pretended to be under the influence of some god. She
began to swing and roll herself about in a most strange manner, trying
to make the multitude believe that _Bir-ap-pa_, or some other god or
goddess, had entered into her. She struck and kicked those persons who
tried to hold her, and abused many in very foul language. I saw and
heard all this, and thought the woman was a great hypocrite. I could
not believe it possible that any god or goddess would compel a woman to
act in such a foolish way. I said to myself, "What a shameful impostor
this woman is!" After thinking a little as to what I could do in order
to expose her, and shew the people that she was deceiving them, I
watched for a favourable opportunity, and then cried out, "Snakes!
snakes!" as loud as I could. This produced immediate confusion. The
priest and his wife, through fear of being stung by the snakes, tried to
get away; no one knew which way to run; some were knocked down, and the
sacred things which the priest and his wife were carrying fell to the
ground and were broken. "The worshippers of _Bir-ap-pa_, and the mob of
followers all dispersed in vexation and grief; but I went home greatly
amused."

CHAPTER SEVEN.

SWORDS BEATEN INTO PLOUGHSHARES.

In the second chapter of Isaiah, and the fourth verse, we read, "They
shall beat their swords into ploughshares;" and by the context we know
that these words are part of a description of that universal peace which
will follow the preaching of the Gospel in every part of the world.
This beautiful poetic image made use of by the prophet Isaiah, has been
adopted by many writers ancient and modern, and the words are often
quoted by eloquent public speakers, when referring to millennial times;
but it is probable that none of them ever expected to hear of the words
being literally fulfilled. This, however, was accomplished in
Singonahully by our little friend Daniel. We have seen that Daniel's
heathen name was `Chickka,' and his father's name was `Veera Chickka,'
that is _hero Chickka_; but whether any deeds of heroism were ever